Please don't eat your young.

kristie778 · May 10, 2007

Truth definately varies by perception, I would say. I don't see a lot of people blaming the victim here, so much as asking anyone in such a position to take some responsibility and become assertive in dealing with it. That is not "young eating" so much as sound advice that would help if taken.

Point taken, and I agree that there was some sound advice, but it was mixed in with comments about how "those new grads have an attitude and expect us to do their work for them." That is just generalizing, which is exactly what many who responded seemed to be bothered by. It's true that not all nurses "eat their young." In the same way, not all new grads/students have attitude problems. If someone has a problem with a new grad they work with, they need to take some of the advice given here about being assertive with that individual in dealing with it. Anyway, I just expected people in this forum to be more supportive of the OP and avoid living up to the notion of "nurses eating their young" (I hate that phrase).

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 10, 2007

truth definately varies by perception, i would say. i don't see a lot of people blaming the victim here, so much as asking anyone in such a position to take some responsibility and become assertive in dealing with it. that is not "young eating" so much as sound advice that would help if taken.

what she said!

SmilingBluEyes · May 10, 2007

Generalizing stinks on both sides. Just as much as I am sure new grads hate to hear how "lazy", "impertinent" or whatever they are, so do "old" nurses hate being called "old hags" who "eat their young". You are right; generalizations have no place in an intelligent and meaningful dialogue. Point well taken. Again, self-assertion and responsibility are key in solving such dilemmas. And if a workplace is truly toxic, that can't be changed. It behooves a person to change his/her workplace in such extreme cases. But again, that is not the truth everywhere, everyplace and in every "old" nurse, either.

Cattitude · May 10, 2007

Anyway, I just expected people in this forum to be more supportive of the OP and avoid living up to the notion of "nurses eating their young" (I hate that phrase).

There probably would have been a lot more support had the forum not been flooded with about a zillion threads on this same subject in the last couple of months. Okay yes I am exaggerating :uhoh3: but you get the point. It seems like just when one thread winded down, another one popped up brand new. :banghead:

It would help if new posters would perhaps search for subjects they need help with. I did that a lot before posting for the first time and I still do it now. But I doubt it will happen.

So the threads will go on and the responses will continue to be mixed!

Ya gotta love All Nurses. I do! :lol2:

MsLady06 · May 10, 2007

as a nursing student i am having a hard time understanding why a good number of nurses are so nasty to nursing students. don't they realize that we are the people who will help fill the shortages in their facilities making their jobs easier? don't get me wrong, i have worked with some great nurses who have been very helpful to me during my clinical rotations. however, the nurses who "eat their young" should know that nursing students compare notes. we warn each other about facilities or units where the nurses have treated us poorly and do not apply for jobs in those places. if your facility has a staffing shortage, being nice to student nurses may help fill the gap later on.

i agree with you here. i noticed during clinicals that both rn and cna's were quite nasty sometimes as if you were annoying them or in the way. usually if a place has a high turn over rate then their nurses are 9 times out of 10 very nasty or the facility in general. i know of one place that pays excellent with very good benefits but everyone quits. i figure i would just take the crap until i graduated from an rn program. i'm usually good with ignoring negative people or mean ones.

mamason · May 10, 2007

Not, it all nurses are mean and nasty to students. Unfortunatley, it is those select few that ruin it for the rest of us who are trying to help the students have a positive learning experience. I have yet to encounter a nursing student with a bad attitude. If anything, they are always eager to help or try new things. I guess it depends on the facility that your clinicals are held at. Also, if the nurses on the floor are so overwhelmed with a heavy assignment, they may just be concentrating on how they are going to accomplish their job which should really be done by two people. Lots of stress goes along with this if that's what's happening on their floor at the time.

I remember one nurse during my clinicals. She was sooo hateful to me. I couldn't understand why. I talked to my clinical instructor about it, and she told me just to blow it off. But, I was still miserable for the rest of that day. She was never assigned students again. I think it was a personality issue with her. But, I have never forgotten that experience or her for that matter. And, I always remember that when we have students on the floor. SO, maybe if you have experienced this type of treatment, you will remember what not to do when you are working as an RN and some little student comes up asks you a question. Hopefully, you will be able to take the time to lead them in the right direction.

Lancer08 · May 10, 2007

Whitefoam, you are correct. This all starts in the school. There are expectation placed on the students that the floor nurses see as "overstepping" their role. If a nurse feels that the student is doing this, try asking them why and they'll find that requirements are being placed on the student that work against the nurse getting their job done. Both end up being frustrated and sometimes disciplined by their superiors, it's set up that way. I'm a student, an older student and retired professional, who has had to train others. I can only tell you that those who approached me in the most humblest way learned the most. This is not because I thought I was superior, but because of their willingness to learn from those in practice. This is what I take to clinical; every nurse is great at something. Unfortunately, the system works against the nurse and myself as a student. As for as the "know-it-all" students...don't worry, we other students know who they are and have to deal with them all the time in class.....cheeez!

emo77 · May 31, 2007

Ok, that's helpful for severe cases(whoever recommended the bullying website)but the point so many here are making is..What the heck is up with nursing instructors? Not all, but a good 75 percent at my school in Minneapolis.

I've graduated from a state school in another field, studied in a university abroad, taken classes at several community colleges and I have never experienced the kind of mistreatment that goes on by nursing instructors. Period.

I am the person who speaks up against unfair treatment, abuse, bullying, call it what you will, I have been a union steward at a previous hospital I worked at. So I have fought, talked to the dean, expressed concern with school advisors, and let me tell you, as a student at my school, it digs you a bigger hole. Nursing school has taught me there are places in the world that teach you to shut your mouth and tolerate all the $@#%.

Thank you to the few and far between out of the instructors who are not this way, you are appreciated that much more. But please, let the rest of the students come to this page to air our concerns, a lot of us feel we have no other place.

And another thing, class of '85 and before...there's a big probability that our student experience is a lot different than your's so as students, I don't know if there's much you can say reputively about our student experience today.

emo77 · May 31, 2007

Ok, that's helpful for severe cases(to whomever suggested a website about bullying), you're not addressing the majority of students that have legitimate concerns and negative feelings. Again, the point so many here are making is..What the heck is up with bad behavior in nursing school as far as instructors? Not all, but a good 75 percent at my school in Minneapolis.

Nursing school has me excited to go to work at the hospital as anursing assistant where I can be with a lot of nurses that know I am in scool, support me, take time out to show me the little things, give me access to learning materials, talk to me with respect, oh, and they aren't paid to do that.

I've graduated from a state school in another field, studied in a university abroad, taken classes at several community colleges and I have never experienced the kind of mistreatment that goes on by nursing instructors. Period.

I am the person who speaks up against unfair treatment, abuse, bullying, call it what you will, I have been a union steward at a previous hospital I worked at. So I have fought, talked to the dean, expressed concern with school advisors, and let me tell you, as a student at my school, it digs you a bigger hole. Nursing school has taught me there are places in the world that teach you to shut your mouth and tolerate all the $@#%.

Thank you to the few and far between out of the instructors who are not this way, you are appreciated that much more. But please, let the rest of the students come to this page to air our concerns a lot of us feel we have no other place.

Lancer08 · May 31, 2007

Louleo,

I agree with you on this matter.